Addicted to Facebook? It Could Pack on Pounds (If You Believe This Study)

Who doesn't have a Facebook account? While a little social networking seems perfectly harmless (it can even be good for you, especially if you're checking out SELF's Facebook page!), according to soon-to-be-published research, too much status-updating can pack on pounds.

The research, from professors at Columbia University and the University of Pittsburgh, finds that social networking boosts your self-esteem (especially if your “friends” are really your friends, as opposed to hundreds of connections you barely know).

That’s good news, right? Well, sort of. According to the research, this momentary increase in self-esteem reduces your self-control, which in turn is associated with a higher body-mass index, increased binge eating, a lower credit score and higher levels of credit card debt. Yikes!

Do you get a self-esteem boost from Facebook? Do you find that it reduces your self-control? Or are you highly skeptical of this study …